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Each year the Enchanted Skies Star Party draws several hundred stargazers to enjoy the clear dark New Mexico skies. Carolyn had lectured at the party before and so we decided to attend and enjoy the lectures and stargazing. The culmination of the party was a chuck wagon barbeque at the Pound Ranch about 20 miles out of town. Stargazers set up their telescopes and we all relaxed with good food, storytelling, and cowboy music while waiting for the stars to come out. |
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Breakfast joint in Socorro |
Martha's Black Dog Coffee House was our first choice for breakfast in Socorro. It had all the charm of The Brick cafe (remember good ol' Cicely, Alaska?), with good food — colorful local characters, and other interesting sights. The breakfast burritos were great! The Socorro Springs Brewing Company — home of great pizza, good brews, and killer brownies! |
The brew pub |
The Macey Center |
Macey Center on the New Mexico Tech campus was the site of all the lectures for the Enchanted Skies Star Party. |
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Setting up a scope |
A stargazer sets up his tube truss scope for Saturday night observing. Dave Finley (PIO for National Radio Astronomy Observatories) starts off the evening's storytelling at Pound Ranch. |
Fireside storytelling |
Sunset colors |
Sunset over the mountains at Pound Ranch. About an hour after sunset, most of the clouds dissipated, giving us about two hours of nearly clear skies! Nature put on a distant light show for us with an autumn thunderstorm over the southeastern deserts. The lightning bolts were spectacular! Later on the Milky Way put on its own lovely show for us. The weather was great and the seeing was magnificent! |
Distant Storm Clouds |
All images Copyright 2002, Mark and Carolyn Collins Petersen